RENEWED ANTI CORRUPTION CRUSADE- LIFELINE FOR NIGERIA’S SOCIO-ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT~CSOs COMMENDS PBAT

RENEWED ANTI CORRUPTION CRUSADE- LIFELINE FOR NIGERIA’S SOCIO-ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT----- CSOs COMMENDS PBAT

As the entire country mourn the tragic explosion in the sprawling, Ibadan ancient city and flashes of violent outbursts in a few crannies of our great country, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is hereby called upon to be on top of the tasks of discharging his onerous, statutory duties of guaranteeing lives and properties of citizens, in the same quiet, unassuming, effective manners the President has rekindled the nation’s anti-corruption crusade.

It is worth noting that President Tinubu, unlike his immediate past predecessor who came into office with an “electoral campaign anti-corruption” mantra, never wasted a drop of saliva during his Presidential campaigns to promise fighting corruption. He has however, been pursuing the crusade in a determinedly focused way, practically conscious of the “sing-song” platitudes of hitherto administrations that, “Corruption will kill Nigeria, if we don’t kill Corruption, first”. The seemingly scarce public funds that have been frittered away by looting by public officials, corruption and financial sleazes is more than enough to jump-start our ailing national economy, tackle industrialisation as well as put us in deservedly comfort zone in the comity of civilised nations. No doubt, Asiwaju Tinubu has effortlessly demonstrated preparedness to mop up resources to address gaping infrastructural deficits in the polity.

Nigeria has been a theatre of the absurd on corruption cases. A nation permanently drawing from the illicit slashing of an ex-maximum ruler, euphemistically referred to as “Abacha Loot” while, there is yet to be accountable for, intractable, $2 Billion Defence Arms, Dasukigate, multi-trillions petroleum, oil and gas revenue slouched away by the “Jezebel of Corruption, Diezani Allizon-Madueke and several others, never-ending anti-corruption cases’ investigations, trials, convictions and pardons that characterised President Muhammad Buhari’s administration. A cursory perusal of documents at the proceedings of court trials New York and London of illicit transactions by multi-national corporations dealing in the Oil and Gas industry with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, reveal monumental, fraudulent, corruption schemes. Jonathan Zarembok working with BP Plc. alleged that “abnormally large fees” were paid to public officials; Anthony Stimler of Glencore claimed $300,000 was paid. A Swiss NGO, “Berne Declaration” accused that NNPC used phantom “letterbox companies” to siphon $6.8 Billion. These are scarce funds that could have been deployed to provide for basic needs of the nation and people!

President Tinubu came into office, hitting the ground active in tackling corruption headlong. He started at a notorious den of corruption with the removal of erstwhile Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, the subsequent shake up at the apex bank and revelations by the Obaze’ special investigation panel opened cans of worms.

We, unequivocally join all men of goodwill and patriots to commend the courage and will of Mr. President on the swift action, suspending the Minister of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation, Beta Edu over the criminally house-warring of N583 Million public funds in the private account of one, Onyiyechi Bridget Mojisola. We look forward to the anti-corruption agencies performing their statutory duties to ensure that whoever is implicated in this case, from within the Ministry, Bunmi Ojo’s Internal Affairs as well as the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, shall be brought to book, no matter whose ox is gored. We know heavens shall not fall, rather, Nigeria shall become a better paradise to live. The probe and prosecution of the N37 Billion appropriated and squandered under the watch of the immediate past Minister of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Ministry, Sadiya Umat Farouq must berth at it logical conclusion. 

We, equally salute the audacity to dare ambience of Mr. President in expanding the dragnet of the anti-corruption crusade by deploying the Anti-Corruption Agencies, ACAs, particularly the able helmsman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyode to investigate and prosecute corruption cases without fetters. This, has led to the agency re-opening of cases of allegation of money laundering against thirteen former State Governors; Ayo Fayose – Ekiti, Bello Matawalle – Zanfara, Theodor Orji – Abia, Danjuma Goje – Gombe, Ken Nnamani and Sullivan Chime – Enugu, Abdullahi Adamu – Nasarawa, Rabiu Kwankwazo – Kano, Odili –Rivers, Abdulahi Wamako – Sokoto, Timipreye Silver – Bayelsa, and, Sule Lamido of Kano State.

In the same token, we totally support the initiatives of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts probe and public scrutiny of the management of the appropriated N183.9 Billion, Covid – 19 Intervention Funds as well as the gross mis management of International Donors Funds during the pandemic lock down. Forensic audit by the Auditor General of the Federation has indicted all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of unlawful meddling with public revenues, for instance, the NNPC is accused to have failed to remit $16 Billion in oil revenue. President Tinubu’s swift decision to dissolve the Boards and Managements of some of these agencies like NSITF, N-Power, NIMASA, NPA, AMCON etc, are steps in the right direction.

As a veritable civil society watchdog, we are not oblivion of the reality that, corruption would inevitably fight back. This is however, a battle which Mr. President and the nation cannot afford to lose. The meagre public revenue cannot be allowed to be depleted by corrupt enterprises while, recovery of looted public funds is a non-negotiable if the Nigeria State must provide for the basic needs of citizens in healthcare facilities, education, good roads network, stable power supply, gainful employment and re-industrialisation of our ailing national economy. We call on all conscientious civil society stakeholders to partner with the Government in this crucial crusade against corruption. The campaign must be massified and owned by the citizens.

E-Signed :-

BALOGUN HAMEED 

Convener

Frontline Socio - Economy Research Centre

OMOTEHINSE ALEX

Secretary

Centre for Human and Socio-economic Right

COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS ;-

Network Alliance for Global Challenge

Good Governance for the Masses

Centre for Human Rights Advocacy

Lawyers Without Borders, Abuja

Youth Initiative Agenda for Democratic Process

Southwest People Parliamentary Agenda

Yoruba Youth Assembly

Peace Initiative For Better Nigeria

Boarders People's Rights Agenda

Grassroots Youth League